Calprotectin, lactoferrin

Differential diagnosis between IBD and IBS is very important because IBD and IBS have very different underlying pathophysiologies and IBD can become life threatening, requiring extensive life long treatment or surgery. Both calprotectin and lactoferrin are substances that are released by WBCs in the stool and are associated with IBD. Their degree of elevation is associated with the severity of the inflammation. They are promising as non-invasive, more sensitive ways of evaluating intestinal inflammation monitoring disease activity.